Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs dedicates wheelchair accessible van to McHenry County VAC

WOODSTOCK - Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Assistant Director Sergio Estrada today joined AMVETS Post #269 for the dedication of a wheelchair accessible van to the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC), which was purchased with a $35,000 Veterans Cash grant previously awarded by IDVA.  The Veterans Cash lottery ticket is the state's first scratch-off lottery ticket where 100 percent of the proceeds go to non-profit organizations that help provide a wide range of services to Illinois Veterans including health care, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment, disability benefits, and housing assistance.

 

"The Veterans Cash lottery ticket is an easy way that residents can help our state's military heroes.  All of the money raised from the ticket goes directly to organizations that help Veterans deal with a variety of issues they are facing including mental health, homelessness and disability benefits," said IDVA Assistant Director Sergio Estrada.  "I am pleased to join AMVETS Post #269 and the McHenry County VAC for the dedication of the new handicapped accessible van that will help Veterans get to needed doctor appointments or other places they wouldn't otherwise be able to get to."

 

The new wheelchair accessible van dedicated today was purchased with a $35,000 Veterans Cash grant that was awarded to AMVETS Post 269, who donated the van to the McHenry County VAC.  The van will be used to transport Veterans and their families to the VA medical facilities in North Chicago, Hines, Milwaukee, Madison and Rockford as well as to take them on various errands and to events including benefits and job fairs. 

 

"The van will be used to transport Veterans to and from their appointments at the VA Medical Center.  On behalf of the Veterans' community, the VAC thanks AMVETS Post 269 and the Illinois Veterans Lottery Grant Committee for their donation of the new handicap access minivan," said Michael Iwanicki, Superintendent, McHenry County VAC.

 

Launched by Governor Blagojevich in February 2006, Veterans Cash is the Lottery's first lottery ticket where 100 percent of proceeds go to support Illinois Veterans.  Proceeds from the sale of this ticket are deposited into an interest bearing account in the State Treasury called the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund.  IDVA awards the money in grants to fund additional services or conduct research relating to Veterans' Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, homelessness, health insurance costs, and disability benefits.  

 

The Veterans Cash ticket has raised more than $5.9 million for the Illinois Veterans' Assistance Trust Fund.  Each ticket costs $2 and has a top prize of $20,000.

 

For more information on Veterans Cash please visit the Illinois Lottery website at www.illinoislottery.com or for more information on Illinois Veteran programs and initiatives or to apply for a Veterans Cash grant, visit the IDVA website at http://www.veterans.illinois.gov.